February 1965 total
forward deployment of the Group was completed to South Vietnam .
Although young in years of existence, from its operational base at NHA Trang,
the Group deployed throughout the four military regions of South Vietnam. Its
operational detachments established and manned camps at 270 different locations
which trained and led indigenous forces of the civilian irregular defense
groups, as well as regular units of the Armed Forces of the Republic of
Vietnam.

Despite being one of the smallest units engaged in the Vietnam
conflict, The 5th Special Forces Group colors fly twenty Campaign Streamers, and its soldiers are
among the Most Highly Decorated in the History of our Nation. Seventeen Medals of Honor were awarded, 8 posthumously.

On 5 March 1971, the colors of the 5th Special Forces Group
were returned to Fort Bragg, North Carolina by a 94-man contingent led by Col. Michael D. Healy, thereby terminating their official
Vietnam service.

The 5th Special Forces Group (Airborne) remained at Fort
Bragg, North Carolina until 10 June 1988, when the Group colors were cased at a
ceremony marking its departure from Fort Bragg. The colors were officially
uncased by Maj. Gen. Teddy G. Allen, Commander of the 101st Airborne Division
(Air Assault) and Fort Campbell, Col. (now Maj. Gen.) Harley C. Davis, Commander
of the 5th Special Forces Group (Airborne), and Command Sgt. Maj. Joseph
Dennison on 16 June 1988 at its new home at Fort Campbell, Kentucky.

The 5th Special Forces Group (Airborne) added to its
Combat History during Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm.

In August 1990 the Group was called upon to conduct theater
operations in Southwest Asia in response to the Iraqi invasion of Kuwait.

During this crisis the Army's First Special Operations Task
Force, (ARSOTF), consisting of elements of the 5th Special Forces Group
(Airborne) comprising 106 special operations teams performing a myriad of
missions that spanned the scope of operations: support to coalition warfare;
conducting foreign internal defense missions with Saudi Arabian Land Forces,
performing special reconnaissance, border surveillance, direct action, combat
search and rescue missions; and advising and assisting a pan-Arab equivalent
force larger than six U.S. divisions, as well as conducting civil-military
operations training and liaison with the Kuwaitis.

In the words of the Centcom Commander, Gen. H. Norman
Schwarzkpf, "Special Forces were the eyes and ears on the ground."

The border surveillance mission assigned the 5th Special
Forces was among the most vital in providing "ground truth" to the
American and Pan Arab Forces.

A new chapter in coalition warfare was written while new
military relationships were forged which continue their importance today.

In August 1992, a full four months prior to the deployment of
major U.S. Forces, the 5th Special Forces Group (Airborne) were conducting
operations in the country of Somalia, again, providing "ground truth."

On 11 June 1993 Gen. Wayne A. Downing, Commander in Chief of
the U.S. Special Operations Command, presented the Valorous Unit Award to the
5th Special Forces Group (Airborne) for service during Operation Desert Storm
17January 1991 to 28 February 1991.

Today, 5th Special Forces Group teams are deploying throughout
Southwest Asia and Africa. Over the past two years, teams have trained in over
14 countries to include: Oman, United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Bahrain, Saudi
Arabia, Kuwait, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Jordan, Egypt, Ethiopia and Somalia.

The soldiers of the 5th Special Forces Group continue to live
the Special Forces motto: To liberate the oppressed.

If you would like more information about the Fifth Special
Forces Group (Airborne), contact the Fifth Special Forces Group (Airborne),
Public Affairs Office at Commercial: (270) 798-7896, DSN: 635-7896.